Memes aside, we gotta fight corruption

Memes aside, we all gotta fight corruption

The nation (at least Ugandan social media to be exact), has been awash with talk about the Anti-Corruption Walk that was organised by the Inspectorate of Government and her sister organisations. The Chief Walker was H.E President Y. K. Museveni. Many critics like the controversial Andrew Mwenda have aired their views about corruption generally, and the walk in particular. It is judicially noticed that there are high levels of corruption in the government and the country at large. The walk therefore brought all these issues to the fore, which I assume might have been the intention of the organisers. Whatsapp messages are full of comments and pictures about the walk, including, - and expectedly so- funny memes, snide remarks and sarcastic comments about the walk and the fight against corruption generally.

However, the words of the DeputySpeaker of Parliament, Hon Jacob Oulanyah MP, are worth serious reflection. He reportedly stated

‘(I) come here because it is a show but deep down I know we are going back to the same old corruption. I dare anyone challenge me on that’.

According to his twitter handle, he wrote that

‘(t)he commitment I would love to see is that when today ends, we stop pretending and hold all to account. The corrupt are not aliens in our society… They are our wives, husbands, brothers, sisters and other relatives’

The Deputy Speaker’s words obviously have not survived the social media guillotine. However, he clearly belled the cat and that cat is us all. As one rightfully quoted the book of John 8:7

Let who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first (NKJV)

Oulanyah not only acknowledges the challenge in fighting corruption, but also suggests ways in which we can confront it. He asks us to apply the law on all and sundry without discrimination, fear or favour. He also challenges us that ‘our frontline begins from where we are.’ Quite rightly so. Corruption will and has not been escorted outside the nation by the walk. It remains intact in us and around us and by us. Unless we decide to **Kwedakko (introspect) and make individual commitments against corruption, we shall remain stuck in this mire. 

There is, however, a special responsibility on the church, to take an active role in the fight against corruption. The church is uniquely called, to stand up and intervene in this case. Bishop Sunday Adelaja in his book, Church Shift rightly argues – without dealing with the value system/ moral fabric of society, it is difficult to make a difference. He therefore calls upon the church to fulfil its mandate of changing society by coming out into society and not remaining ‘confined to its sanctuary and school room Classrooms.’ The Church therefore needs to focus on ‘taking a proactive position in society,’  and ‘go outside (the church) building and enforce (Christ’s) authority.’ In so doing, it will establish the principles of the Kingdom of God and transform our nation to one that is corruption free.  It is certainly a tall order but not impossible.

I hope this message has not been lost on us – memes, hashtags and jokes notwithstanding. I thank the Inspectorate of Government and her sister organisations for bringing this issue to the fore once again. May we all be courageous enough to fight corruption. It starts with me. So help me God.